Boat



April 9, 1963 J. BECKER 3,084,655

BOAT

Filed. Dec. 7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JAMES L. BECKER.

AT TORNEY.

April 9, 1963 J. L. BECKER 3,084,655

' BOAT Fi led. Dec. 7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAMES L. BECKER.

ATTORNEY.

7 member 21 having a housing United States Patent 3,084,655 BOAT James L. Becker, 7771 Styrax Lane, Cincinnati 37, Ohio Filed Dec. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 74,286 3 Claims. (Cl. 114-67) This invention relates to boats, and more particularly to a boat with a rotating hull of semi-spherical formation, whereby the boat will glide over the water in any desired direction. The spinning hull will ride high in the Water thus reducing the friction between the boat and the water for obtaining greater speed for the boat.

The object of my invention is to provide a semi-spherical boat capable of traveling in any desired direction, forward, aft or sidewise.

A further object of my invention is to provide motive power for the boat which will propel the boat and control the direction of travel.

A further object is to provide means for changing the relative position of the propeller in respect to the inner compartment of the boat.

h ll further object is to provide means for roating the A further object is to provide means for holding the hull and inner compartment in fixed relation to each other.

A further object is to provide air scoops on the rotating hull to aid in rotating the hull.

My invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of my improved boat.

IFIG. 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken in the plane of the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a modified plan view of my device.

My improved boat comprises a semi-spherical hull 11 having extending ballast boards adjacent to the top of the hull. The upper ballast board 12 is provided with air scoops 13. A passenger compartment 14 is journalled within the hull 11 being supported on ball bearings 15 adjacent to the upper portion thereof and bearings 16 at: the base. Seats 17 and a floor 19 are provided. A motor 20 is mounted on the floor central of the craft.

Extending upwardly from the motor 20 is a tubular 22 secured to the upper end thereof. A shaft 23 in the tubular member 21 extends from the motor 20 and drives a propeller 24 through the gears 25 and 26. A tail fin 27 is secured to the housing 22 and acts as a rudder to maintain the boat on course.

The relative position of the propeller to the comp-artment 14 is controlled by a steering Wheel 28 mounted on a shaft 29 in a bracket 30 extending upwardly from the floor 19. A sprocket wheel 31 is secured to the tubular member 21 and a sprocket wheel 32 is secured to the steering wheel shaft 29 whereby through a sprocket chain 33 the direction of the air pull of the propeller can be changed relative to the compartment 14 for changing the direction of movement of the boat. Due to the semispherical hull the boat can be propelled in any direction and its direction changed by manipulation of the steering wheel.

The hull is rotated in respect to the inner compartment by means of a shaft 35 extending downwardly from the motor and having a gear 36 secured thereto meshing with a gear 37 secured to a tubular member 38 secured to the hull and centered on the bearing 16. A pipe 39 extends from the motor through the tubular member 38 to provide water for cooling the motor and an exhaust pipe 40 also extends through the member 38.

Patented Apr. 9, 1963 "ice Suitable controls for the operation of the motor to provide driving connection to the shafts 23 and 35 are not shown as they are well known in the art.

The shaft 35 when not in operating connection with the motor remains stationary holding the hull 11 through the gears 36 and 37 stationary in respect to the compartment 14.

In FIG. 3, I have shown a modified form of my invention, wherein a rudder 41 extends from the tubular member 21 over the side of the boat into the Water in place of the tail fin 27 for maintaining the inner compartment against rotation.

To operate my improved boat, the propeller is turned by means of the steering wheel to the direction it is desired to travel. The motor is started and operated to drive the shaft 23. As the boat starts to move, the shaft 35 is engaged for rotation, to rotate the hull 11 through the gears 36 and 37. The rotating hull will cause the boat to rise on the water to reduce the friction of the boat on the water and greatly increase its speed. The air scoops 13 will aid in the rotation of the hull.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A boat comprising:

(a) a horizontal semi-circular hull,

(b) a passenger compartment mounted in said hull supported on bearings in said hull,

(c) a motor in said compartment,

(d) said motor imparting rotation to said hull around said compartment,

(e) a shaft extending upwardly from said motor,

(1) a housing around said shaft extending above said compartment, and

(,g) a propeller driven by said shaft and supported by said housing for imparting movement to said boat.

2. A boat comprising:

(a) a horizontal semi-circular hull,

(b) a passenger compartment mounted in said hull supported on bearings in said hull,

(c) a motor in said compartment,

(d) said motor imparting rotation to said hull around said compartment,

(e) a shaft extending upwardly from said motor,

(f) a housing around said shaft extending above said compartment,

(g) a propeller said housing and (h) a steering wheel having connection with said housing for changing the direction of said propeller relative to said compartment to steer the boat.

3. A boat comprising:

(a) a horizontal semi-circular hull,

(b) a passenger compartment mounted in said hull supported on bearings in said hull,

(c) a motor in said compartment,

(d) said motor imparting rotation to said hull around said compartment,

(e) a shaft extending upwardly from said motor,

(f) a housing around said shaft extending above said compartment,

(g) a propeller driven by said shaft and supported by said housing for imparting movement to said boat,

(11) a steering wheel having connection with said housing for changing the direction of said propeller relative to said compartment to steer the boat, and

(i) a rudder for maintaining said compartment against rotation.

(References on following page) driven by said shaft and supported by for imparting movement to said boat,

0 0 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,826,163 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,193,094- Wendt Aug. 1, 1916 1,609,922 Wiig Dec. 7, 1926 5 2,267,254 Reilley Dec, 23, 1941 362,683 2,341,911 Drexler et a1. 'Feb. 15, 1944 533,751 552,080

4 King Mar. 11, 1958 Erickson Mar. 11, 1958 Peterson Aug. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 11, 1906 Italy Sept. 27, 1955 Italy Nov. 26, 1956 

1. A BOAT COMPRISING: (A) A HORIZONTAL SEMI-CIRCULAR HULL, (B) A PASSENGER COMPARTMENT MOUNTED IN SAID HULL SUPPORTED ON BEARINGS IN SAID HULL, (C) A MOTOR IN SAID COMPARTMENT, (D) SAID MOTOR IMPARTING ROTATION TO SAID HULL AROUND SAID COMPARTMENT, (E) A SHAFT EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID MOTOR, (F) A HOUSING AROUND SAID SHAFT EXTENDING ABOVE SAID COMPARTMENT, AND (G) A PROPELLER DRIVEN BY SAID SHAFT AND SUPPORTED BY SAID HOUSING FOR IMPARTING MOVEMENT TO SAID BOAT. 